Gary Revilo’s Gigs

If you can’t be bothered to read VOLUME (available from Amazon.co.uk), the gig list provides a summary of the horrors contained within. Just read this instead. This selective list is far from being exhaustive. Several hundred were crummy pub-rock bands which have not been listed because they were not of sufficient merit. Lots of gigs have got lost in the mists of time. For example, I know for a fact that I saw the Blue Aeroplanes at least eight times but I can’t identify a single precise date. For bands like The Time, the Outsiders and the Agency which I saw repeatedly, only a few selected shows are mentioned. Gigs by the bands I managed (Thieves Like Us and The Secret) are not listed. Festivals include only some of the bands I actually saw at them. Sudden gaps indicate managing bands, bringing up children or sojourns abroad. * indicates that I cant remember the exact date. I calculate that this list represents about 75 percent of the actual gigs I have attended. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed. Anyone spotting errors is invited to correct them.

1964 *The Hollies, Cheltenham Town Hall

Quiffs intact. Graham Nash played an unamplified acoustic guitar.

*The Sharks, Schöningen, Germany (several times)

Unfeasible trousers but great R & B.

1965

*The Hollies, Cheltenham Town Hall

We sat on chairs positioned round the edge of the dancefloor and didn’t dare ask anyone to dance.

1966

*TJ  Tours, France

TJ, a black American organist, played in the same club every night for a month. He claimed to have written Night of a Thousand Dances.

A benefit for the Conservation Society. An ill-matched bill failed to create much atmosphere.

1971

March 23: Yes, Norwich Lads Club

What was the name of that irritating acoustic solo Steve Howe used to do?

April 4: Bronco, University of East Anglia, Norwich

It may be a loo roll to you, but to me it was my introduction to Jess Roden.

April 30: Michael Chapman, Norwich Folk Festival

And he’s still on the road right now.

May 12th: Traffic, Norwich Lads Club

It looked like members of this band would soon start to die. They did.

1972

*MC5: Edo-Osterloh-Haus, Kiel, Germany

Excuse me, what means Kick Out Ze Jemms, Muzzerfuckers?

*Man: Edo-Osterloh-Haus, Kiel, Germany

You thought the Manics were the original Welsh windbags? No, Man were.

*Alexis Korner: Pupille, Kiel, Germany

I couldn’t afford to go but I heard it through the floor.

*Frumpy, Förde-Hochhaus, Eckernförde, Germany

Inga Rumpf, Frumpy’s singer, is now a Christian evangelist.

*Brian Auger Trinity / Status Quo, Stadthalle, Neumünster

Quo were cool. No longer a pop band and not yet a joke.

1973

15. October: Free, Colston Hall, Bristol

Heartbreaking performance to promote Heartbreaker.

31. October: Rory Gallagher: Colston Hall, Bristol

A nice line in lumberjack shirts.

1974

*Stackridge, Victoria Rooms, Bristol

The Stanley is for you and me.

*John Entwistle’s Ox, Bristol University

However did they get all that equipment up to the first floor?

18. September: Deep Purple, Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany

I’m afraid I always thought that Ritchie Blackmore was over-rated.

27. October: Nektar, Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany

Deutsch-Rock vom Feinsten.

4. November: Gong, Post-Aula, Bremen, Germany

Featuring Steve Hillage in woolly hat mode.

12. December: Mungo Jerry, Revolution, Bremen, Germany

Fantastic! Someone in the audience kept buying the band Jägermeister and they kept drinking and playing until they could no longer stand. The next night, the club burned down.

16. December: The Sweet, Stadthalle, Bremen, Germany

My snobby friends refused to attend on the basis that the Sweet were a teenybop band. Nonsense! Fabulous glam rock, with the drummer having a drum battle with a back projection of himself. They beat the Flaming Lips to this concept by 25 years.

She was briefly able to fill theatres like this. Kiki had an appealing vulnerability.

1. December: Caravan, Southampton University

For Girls Who Grow Plump In The Night.

10. December: Steeleye Span, Gaumont, Southampton

They should have kept it under their Hat.

17. December: Manfred Manns Earth Band, Gaumont, Southampton

Big In Germany.

1977

28. January: Supercharge / Ultravox, Southampton University

This was the original Ultravox with John Foxx (better than any subsequent versions).

9. February: Jethro Tull, Gaumont, Southampton

Flamingos can stand on one leg as well.

13. February: SAHB without Alex Harvey, Top Rank, Southampton

Clever name, eh? Quite good even without the main man, because of Zal Cleminson.

5. March: Pat Travers Band / Doctors of Madness, Reading University

The doctor had a bassist called Stoner who dressed up in a skeleton suit.

9. March: Graham Parker and the Rumour, Guildhall, Portsmouth

Brinsley Schwarz is a cool name, don’t you think?

15. March: Gordon Giltrap, Southampton University

There must be better things to do with a guitar.

21. March: Bandit, Village Bowl, Bournemouth

I went because dear old James Litherland was in the band. The singer was Jim Diamond, who later had a hit with I Should Have Known Better.

13. April: Tribo, Mirandela, Portugal

Hitching though Portugal, I was befriended by this band which specialised in Camel covers! They gave a performance specially for me (which can happen if you are an Englishman abroad). The bassist Manuel is still a good friend today.

“Extract from review: Its 3 a.m. and the wind is blowing an icy gale, gusting violently at storm force speeds. High up on the hillside, a lone emaciated figure, clad only in a pair of flimsy underpants, struggles to prevent his flapping tent from disappearing over the precipice. Images of Stone Age Man are evoked as he bravely hammers at the bent tent pegs with a rough hewn flint.” Of course, my wife and one-year old baby slept through the entire thing.

26. July: The Agency, Pinecliff, Bournemouth

First appearance of the Soul Searchers, made up of various Bournemouth stalwarts. The world’s best party band.

Extract from the review: “I observe a curry stall for half an hour and do some sums. Veg curry and pitta costs £4. There are six people serving, on average, one customer a minute each. This means theyre making £1440 an hour. Nice work! One festival a year and the rest of the year on the Costa Brava.”

26. July: Senseless Things, River Park, Winchester

Winchester’s pathetic attempt at a festival.

6. August: The Templemeads, Mash Tun, Winchester

What a great name. A truly likeable raggle-taggle band, which made an album with the marvellous title Ate My Kitchen. Their drummer is now in Bellowhead, fact fans.

26. August: The Agency, White Buck, Burley

More stirrings down in the Forest.

9. September: Flik Spatula / Eat, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Later, Flik’s guitarist actually joined Eat.

14. October: Van Morrison, Gaumont, Southampton

Back to top form. My ribald friend Malcolm Payne pretended he thought it was Jim Morrison.

14. December: Automatic Dlamini, Railway Inn, Winchester

The first ever sighting round these parts of Polly Jean Harvey.

1990

11. January: Automatic Dlamini, Joiners Arms, Southampton

I videoed this classic gig. Support came from ex-Chesterfields the Betty Pages.

15. February: Giant Sand, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Howe Gelb found an old upright piano and spent most of the show improvising blues on it. He could’t have hated me because we’d never met.

18. March: Kevin Coyne, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

His hair had gone white but he still had the magic.

27 March: The Brilliant Corners, Joiners Arms. Southampton

First of four Joiners appearances from these under-recognised Bristolians.

7. April: The Hollies, Mayflower, Southampton

Sorry Suzanne.

14. June: Whisky Priests, Railway Inn, Winchester

Bloody typical Winchester again. There was a punch-up.

23-25. June: Glastonbury Festival with The Cure etc.

On the way home we crashed into exactly the same bridge outside Salisbury that the Rolling Stones had crashed into decades earlier. I promise I didn’t do it on purpose.

9. July: Spirit of the West, Railway Inn, Winchester

An American band at the Railway. Blimey!

28. August: An Emotional Fish, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Hilarious. They brought an articulated lorry full of gear and got it stuck in St Mary Street. Serve them right.

5. September: John Otway, Railway Inn, Winchester

He couldnt get far up the step ladder because the ceiling was so low.

10. October: Die Toten Hosen, Subterrania, London

Mad German punks. Dead Trousers,  that’s a good name.

10. November: Van Morrison, Mayflower, Southampton

When he’s good, he’s very very good.

15. November: The Becketts, Joiners Arms, Southampton

John Parish produced this Bristol band which specialised in controversial posters.

24. November: Happy End, Hope Centre, Bristol

Improvised jazz in the mould of Loose Tubes. This was interesting. It was the first evidence that John Parish was a star in Bristol. Every two minutes, people came up to shake his hand.

1991

11. January: The Agency, Bournemouth Pavilion

It was a trifle chilly on the seafront.

2. February: Return to the Forbidden Planet, Cambridge Theatre, London

The return of Tim Barron, starring in this blockbuster musical.

14. February: Trip, West Indian Club, Southampton

They’d just been signed and everything was set fair.

23. March: Maria McKee, Academy, Manchester

Maria can knock Spots off all the Alanis Morrisettes of this wirld.

25. May: BAP / Bob Geldofs Vegetarians of Love, Hamburg, Germany

A sort of festival. Dave Stewart’s band played as well. All the music was lamentable and I froze half to death.

Chilling. In the audience was the Languages Adviser who for years ensured that I didn’t get promotion. If she was a Blues Band fan, I couldn’t be.

26. October: Runrig, Modernes, Bremen

Christmas in Germany makes you desperate. One good thing: The roof of the venue swung open to reveal the stars.

21. December: PJ Harvey, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Hadn’t we seen this girl somewhere before?

29. December: Cropdusters / Trip, East Point Centre, Southampton

A horrible old school hall.

1992

17. January: Robyn Hitchcock / PJ Harvey: ULU, London

Poor Robyn was upstaged and the press was out in force. I had a nasty experience in the bar. A bloke called Jon Driscoll from Waltham Chase, who years before had successfully hassled me to plug his fanzine Teenage Kicks, had become a music media darling by the name of Jon Fat Beast. I spotted him and went over to congratulate him on his success. He blanked me.

15. February: Gallon Drunk, Joiners Arms, Southampton

The support band was Asphalt Ribbons, later to become Tindersticks.

12. March: John Campbell, Boars Head, Wickham

In my Top Ten gigs of all time.

13. March: Birdland / Trip, Southampton University

I cycled there and left after my boys.

28. March: The Hamsters / The Producers, Boars Head, Wickham

The Hamsters did annoyingly pointless Hendrix covers.

24. April: The Fall, Grosse Freiheit 36, Hamburg

I nearly died. See the book.

5. May: Dr Feelgood, Boars Head, Wickham

Farewell, Sir Lee. We shall not hear his like again.

27. May: PJ Harvey, Pyramids, Portsmouth

This was shattering. Got to go again tomorrow.

28. May: PJ Harvey / Automatic Dlamini, Bierkeller, Bristol

So I did. John Parish nearly fell off the stage when he saw me leering out of the audience.

3. June: Automatic Dlamini, The Gardens, Yeovil

A night club complete with palm trees. I scattered flyers to the winds.

There was little sign that the American support band would end up in the charts.

7. September: Throwing Muses, Pyramids, Portsmouth

Good birthday present.

9. October: Joe Ely / Coal Porters, Boar’s Head, Wickham

Right, I must go to Austin, Texas. Immediately.

28. October: Guitar Orchestra / Passing Clouds, BID, Berlin, Germany

I attended this in an effort to promote the Dlamini album, and bumped into ex-pupil Adam Green as well.

26. November: That Petrol Emotion, Pyramids, Portsmouth

Another band which deserved to do far better than it did.

8. December: The Sundays, Pyramids, Portsmouth

It was hard to see what made this band at all special.

15. December: Automatic Dlamini, The Cricketers, Oval, London

This was their last ever gig. I was the only paying customer.

1993

12. January: Otis Grand, Boars Head, Wickham

He did a guitar walkabout and nearly trampled me to death.

13. January: The Wishplants, Powerhaus, Islington, London

After the band had gone off, they pulled a curtain across the stage and started up a disco.

2. February: Stereo MCs, Pyramids, Portsmouth

They took ten years to make a second album.

23. February: Belly, Pyramids, Portsmouth

Belly had a gorgeous heavy metal bassist.

24. February: Suede, Pyramids, Portsmouth

Concave stomachs a go-go.

3. March: The Auteurs, Joiners Arms, Southampton

They thought they were pretty wonderful. Last time they had played at the Joiners, they had been supporting Suede.

9. March: Birdland, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Funniest Joiners gig ever. They asked Mint to turn out the lights so they could make a spectacular entrance. Unfortunately, they forgot to ask him to turn them on again and thus played their first two numbers in complete darkness.

22. April: The Heartthrobs, Joiners Arms, Southampton

A great band built around the Carlotti sisters. Should have been a lot better known.

22. May: PJ Harvey, Guildhall, Southampton

Support gang Gallon Drunk were destroyed by the soundman. PJH were inspiring.

12. June: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall

The support band, Moosehead, featured Mark Meredith and his brother Guy.

24. June: Arthur Brown, Joiners Arms, Southampton

No flaming headdress. A poor advertisement for the rock & roll lifestyle.

What a shame! There was hardly anyone there, so the girls got to be on Irish TV just by dancing around in front of the stage. In a Guinness-fuelled frenzy, I finally got my ear pierced.

10. August: Kinky Machine, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Later to become Rialto, they played at the Joiners four times.

11. October: Sleeper, Pyramids, Portsmouth

I took my friend Trevor but he wasn’t impressed: “She can’t sing!”

19. October: Echobelly, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Drummer Andy Henderson had been in Automatic Dlamini. Me, I tried to square the apparent picture of innocence that was Sonja Aurora Madan with a lascivious interview with her which I had read in that week’s NME.

1996

17. January: Perfume, Joiners Arms, Southampton

They had five different styles of promotional postcard. Five!

22. January: Björk, BIC, Bournemouth

We first had to sit through the Brodski Quartet caterwauling for an hour.

24. January: Placebo, Joiners Arms, Southampton

My idea of a truly terrible band.

25. January: Catatonia, Joiners Arms, Southampton

First sight of Cerys in action and one thing was obvious: This is a star.

I went with Lucy and it pissed all day. Whipping Boy were brilliant, whatever became of them?

6. June: Sleeper, Southampton Guildhall

They failed, like every other band here, to overcome the acoustics.

16. June: Freakpower, Portsmouth Polytechnic

This time I went with Annabel and the bouncers were awkward. We had a backstage pass, however, courtesy of the bassist Jesse, who had been in a musical with Tim Barron. Norman Cook is a better rhythm guitarist than a DJ, he was great.

17. June: Mansun, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Headlining now.

5. July: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall

More soul searching.

17. July: Tiger / Linoleum, Joiners Arms, Southampton

I put my name on Linoleum’s mailing list and for the next few years, I kept receiving bits of lino through the post. I nearly accumulated enough to finish the kitchen floor.

20  21 July: Womad Festival, Reading

Lots of good people whose names I can’t spell.

26. July: Bottomless Pit Orchestra, The Eagle, Winchester

More fleas.

4. September: Sneaker Pimps / Screeper, Joiners Arms, Southampton

One of the Sneaker Pimps took a call on his mobile phone on stage. Cool or what?

7. September: Howe Gelb, The Pit, Farnham

My birthday treat. As he was a friend of John Parish’s, we offered to help Howe get to the nearest railway station, but he refused. He doesn’t like me.

9. September: Robyn Hitchcock / Homer, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Someone wrote an incomprehensible letter to the Chronicle about Homer.

18. September: Linoleum, Joiners Arms, Southampton

I spotted a brilliant guitarist in this band, and lo and behold, he later joined Elastica.

24. September: Longpigs, Pyramids, Portsmouth

A Crispin and a Crispian within a fortnight. What’s rock & roll coming to?

27. September: XL5, The Bridge, Shawford

Not even Mark Andrews could awaken the audience in this “Ignore the band” pub.

1. October: Kula Shaker: Pyramids, Portsmouth

When I went to the bar, I looked to the left and saw Richard Branson (record company boss). Then I looked to the right and saw Sir John Mills (Crispian’s grandfather).

2. October: Nils Lofgren, The Brook, Southampton

Quite nice to drive ten minutes down the road and see a legend in a pub.

5. October: John Parish and PJ Harvey, The Cavity, Bridport

The best night of my life.

6. October: The Hoax, The Brook, Southampton

Would they break through? They’d already been on Later With Jools Holland.

8. October: John Parish and PJ Harvey, Fleece and Firkin, Bristol

We stayed at a guest house in Whitchurch called Revilo. It wasnt very good.

12. October: The Producers, The Brook, Southampton

They kept playing until they more or less had to be carried offstage.

13. October: Nut, Joiners Arms, Southampton

A girl singer briefly touted by some record company. The name wasn’t too promising.

16. October: Audioweb, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

The press hated this band but I thought the combination of soulful vocals and chunky guitars was quite clever.

4. November: Drugstore, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

The crowd was small but the amount of red wine consumed on stage was large.

5. November: Catatonia, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

The buzz was growing fast now.

16. November: Edward II, RKL Club, Gosport

The most danceable band on the planet, it said. Unfortunately, the audience was clinically dead.

18. November: Scheer, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Good band from Northern Ireland. Head from Yeovil was doing the sound.

Paul Dominy got me drunk and I couldnt remember if I’d locked up the hall. Had to go back in the middle of the night to check.

1997

11. January: The Producers, The Brook, Southampton

More of the same.

21. January: Super Furry Animals, Kenickie, Astoria, London

This was an NME Brat show. Kenickie were just beginning to attract attention.

2. February: Screeper, North Pole, Winchester

Their manager, Tony Rollinson, wrote a book about music in Portsmouth, not by any means as short a volume as you might think.

5. February: Candyskins, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Oxford band on the way down.

6. February: John Parish and PJ Harvey, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Sumptuous surroundings for the Louse Point dance show.

12. February: Silver Sun, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Spunky harmony pop.

26. February: Gene, Guildhall, Southampton

The Supernaturals supported and were better than Gene.

28. February: The Agency, The Producers, Winter Gardens, Bournemouth

A fund-raiser for Bournemouth Football club!

6. March: Rosa Mota, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Certainly the loudest band ever to play the Joiners.

12. March: Pavement, Pyramids, Portsmouth

My favourite US band at the time. Check out the mad drummer.

20. March: Symposium, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Spoilt brats.

25. March: Gorkys Zygotic Mynci, The Brook, Southampton

Gorkys on top form before record company tomfoolery.

28. March: T-Rextasy, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Ugh! A tribute band. Paul made me go.

3. April: K-Passa, The Brook, Southampton

Mass pogoing.

15. April: Goldblade, Joiners Arms, Southampton

My pet goths Gretschen Hofner supported and were more interesting than Goldblade.

20. April: Billy Bragg, Salisbury Arts Centre

Very special Bragg show: It was two nights before the General Election!

21. April: Gorkys Zygotic Mynci, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

An upward trajectory.

23. April: Catatonia, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

And another.

25. April: La Cucina, Twyford Parish Hall

The conga went right the way round the hall. One of those bands where it’s impossible to believe that such thrilling music can’t make a living for itself.

1. May: Mansun, Pyramids, Portsmouth

The perfect rock & roll attitude.

13. May: Ian Hunter, The Brook, Southampton

Not nearly as good as his past had led one to believe.

14. May: Feil Garvie, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Adam Green’s latest effort. Even less likely to succeed than the previous ones.

17. May: Jackie Leven, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

I really wanted to be positive about Jackie. He was good but still a sour-faced old git.

20. May: Kenickie, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

At their best. It would’t last long.

21. June: Pete Harris Blues Band, Twyford Parish Hall

This was Birgit’s 40th birthday party. Support was the first (and sadly not the last) performance by Revilo and Ricardo. I demonstrated my love by forcing myself to go on stage and sing Stay, The One I Love and Don’t Ask Me. We got an encore.

I fail to see the charm of Radiohead. It seems I am not in the majority.

4. July: World Party, Guildhall, Portsmouth

Hello Jumbo.

10. July: Vex, North Pole, Winchester

They got Indie Album Of The Month in MOJO.

12. July: La Cucina, The Brook, Southampton

All their families were there.

19. July: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall

They brought the hall down as usual.

26  27 July: Womad Festival, Reading

We had a go at a drum workshop.

6. September: Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, The Pit, Farnham

My birthday present again. The food was awful.

13. September: The Cage, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

The grand debut of Richard’s band. I was in a furious mood because of having been refused admission to see Eric Bibb the previous night on account of arriving five minutes late. My ceaseless unremunerated plugging of the Tower had never been acknowledged and that was the last straw.

24. September: Tanya Donnelly, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Considerably less confrontational music than last time round.

2. October: Stereolab, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

I love a band that sets up its own gear.

8. October: Spiritualized, Pyramids, Portsmouth

I hated it. Dunno why. Within a couple of months I’d decided they were brilliant.

9. October: Strangelove, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth Fantastic.

Patrick Duff was a complete natural. Fail to understand why he’s so unpopular with the press. Maybe because he’s got a brain?

28. October: Seventeen Reasons Why, Hotel Utah, San Francisco

A visit to the home of American Music Club. We ate salsa and corn chips.

Funk Overload! The Real Thing! And we met someone who had been at Glastonbury.

30. September: Monte Montgomery, Saxon Bar, Austin, Texas

Tequila overdose! The next day, I bought his album.

3. October: R.L. Burnside, House of Blues, New Orleans

Genuine toothless blues.

4. October: John Carey, Tipicino’s, New Orleans

Kill that digital sound system.

8. October: Hurricane No. 1, Joiners Arms, Southampton

One of these ended up in Oasis.

12. October: Rialto / Lodger, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Overblown and over-hyped.

14. October: Ash, Guildhall, Portsmouth

Ash have one of the wildest audiences ever, but the songs were great and Charlotte Hatherley had transformed the band.

19. October: Grandaddy, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

The lowest-fi imaginable. A quiet electric band,  how refreshing.

20. October: Mansun, Guildhall, Southampton

Annabel fell asleep.

26. October: Bob Mould / Mercury Rev, Reading University

Just a minute, who’s that support band? The candelabra gave them away. I made the fatal mistake of going to the front during Bob Mould’s set and couldnt hear for a week.

27. October: Silver Sun, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Well, I like harmony vocals.

11. November: Morcheeba, Pyramids, Portsmouth

Quite pleasant to listen to but not much of a live spectacle.

16. November: Roddy Frame, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Quite a revelation. Just as lively and inspired as in Aztec Camera days.

26. November: Edward II, The Brook, Southampton

Could we afford to book them? No.

28. November: John Cooper-Clarke, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

Bernard Manning lives.

2. December: Drugstore, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Yes, well, by now it had all gone horribly wrong, of course.

11. December: PJ Harvey, Colston Hall, Bristol

We all went down in a gang. We walked out of the car park and someone threw a bottle at us from a bus window. Thanks a bunch.

12. December: The Producers, Twyford Parish Hall

They stayed over and played a lunchtime gig at the Bugle the next day, despite having consumed the best part of a bottle of whisky before going to bed. Hard livin’ bluesmen.

18. December: PJ Harvey, Olympia, Dublin, Ireland

I stayed in Swords, where Boyzone come from. Howe Gelb (support) still doesn’t like me.

1999

8. January: Orko, Railway Inn, Winchester

Briefly managed by Mint. Probably a mistake.

9. January: Reconsider, Talking Heads, Southampton

A young blues band. So bad that I decided not to review it for fear of being too offensive.

19. January: Mercury Rev, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Putting in a bid to be my favourite band of all time.

25. January: John Parish, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

A live version of his Rosie film sountrack. It really worked.

8. February: Heather Nova, Salisbury Arts Centre

Twyford village outing. Heather is a suitable role model for any teenage girl.

13. February: Miller Anderson, Vintage Inn, Shedfield

And this was the man who wrote all the Keef Harley albums.

20. February: Colosseum,The Brook, Southampton

Oh God! Dave Clempson was half bald and wore glasses. They had’t progressed at all in 25 years. No need to insult the audience like this.

24. February: Los Pacaminos, The Brook, Southampton

Paul Young’s hobby Tex-Mex band.

26. February: The Creatures, Salisbury Arts Centre

The audience seemed to have taken a wrong turning from the Rocky Horror Show.

5. March: Wilco Johnson, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

Not really a suitable venue.

9. March: Rumdum, Joiners Arms, Southampton

The grand re-opening of the Joiners after re-furbishment. They put the stage against the only wall which hadn’t been tried before.

16. March: Glenn Tilbrook, The Brook, Southampton

You can’t half singalong to those old Squeeze songs.

20. March: Bop Brothers, Twyford Parish Hall

Undemanding blues evening.

1. April: PJ Harvey and John Parish, Improv. Theatre, London

They were sensational. It was supposed to be John Peel’s birthday party but turned out to be the first of many. Echo and the Bunnymen were so bad that Birgit was yelling ”Boo, get off” like the guys in the Muppet Show.

9. April: K-Passa, Talking Heads, Southampton

Should I book them?

12. April: Rosita, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Kenickie spin-off, hardly worth the bother.

13. April: Bobby Mack and Night Train, The Brook, Southampton

Southampton, Texas, what’s the difference?

16. April: The Hoax, The Brook, Southampton

Recording their farewell live album.

19. April: Ultrasound, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Fat people being not very good. My unerring antennae for a band about to break up proved reliable again.

27. April: Howe Gelb, The Cumberland, Bristol

He STILL doesnt like me.

9. May: Handsome Family, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

Murder in the woods. Sylvia Sims is a big fan (You’ll have to read the book).

10. May: John Cale, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

The fact that it was billed as a Spoken Word event didn’t put people off calling out for Velvet Underground songs.

12. May: dEUS, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Belgium’s finest. Theyd gone a bit alt-country but none the worse for that.

15. May: Colin Blunstone, The Brook, Southampton

The Zombies Odessy and Oracle is one of my favourite albums. Colin was encouragingly elegant and unravaged.

It rained and there was hardly anyone there, but it did’t matter because this weird event was bankrolled by rich people for their own entertainment. There are certainly worse things to spend your money on.

3. June: The Producers, Tower Arts Centre

They’d just been voted British Blues Band of the Year.

6. June: A, Joiners Arms, Southampton

It was very rumbustuous but not much else.

17. June: Scott 4, Joiners Arms, Southampton

An unsuccessful attempt to appear cool in stetsons.

20. June: Tom Robinson, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

He downloaded some of his own lyrics on the internet in the interval.

22. June: Wilco, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Jeff Tweedy wins my vote for seediest rocker of the century. He also hurled himself backwards through the drumkit during the encore.

He said he knew where to mine for gold. But since Four Weddings and a Funeral, he doesn’t need to bother.

8. November: David Gray, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Good name, good bloke.

12. November: Eugene Hideaway Bridges, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

Hideaway? Good idea.

16. November: The Flaming Lips, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Brilliant performance art. In my Top Three ever.

25. November: Paddy Casey, Joiners Arms, Southampton

A bit like Marc Bolan. Are we coming full circle?

11. December: John Otway / K-Passa, Twyford Parish Hall

See introduction.

26. December: The Agency, Liquids, Bournemouth

Finishing the Millennium in traditional style.

2000

23. January: Bellatrix, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Good point: what happened to Bellatrix?

26. January: Blue Aeroplanes, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

They were even better than ever, if that’s possible. But their following had dwindled.

28. January: Rachel Stamp, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Good point: what happened to Rachel Stamp?

30. January: Freedy Johnson, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

I have fond memories of our cat, Freedy, who was run over by a lorry. But of Freedy Johnson I have no memory at all.

31. January: Elastica, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

This was the period when they were all allegedly on drugs and the press thought they were crap. I though they were fantastic. That Justine was still a bit of all right.

7. February: Savoy Brown, Bottom Line, New York.

How embarrassing. Arriving at what, to a UK punter, would have seemed a reasonable time, I found I had missed not only the support act but all but the last ten minutes of the headliners as well. The doorman took pity on me and let me stay for the second house. Kim Simmonds was still impeccably smoothed but poor old Dave Peverett had died.

26. February: Peter Bruntnell, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

Early exposure to a musician destined to become one of my favourites.

5. March: Day One, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Good point: whatever happened …? (Oh, shut up!)

10 March: Eels, The Pyramids, Portsmouth

The funniest gig of all time. The magnificent Mr E insisted that we should all sit down in silence for the duration of the show. Scuffles broke out in the audience when some people refused to comply.

15. March: The Wannadies, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Not bad for Scandinavians.

18. March: The Producers, Twyford Parish Hall

They played a blinder. Voted UK blues band of the year three years running.

20. March: Cay / Crashland, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Cay were kinda krusty.

2. April: Terris / Coldplay, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Aha! It was obvious to all the thirty or so people present that Coldplay were going to be gigantic.

4. April: The The, The Pyramids, Portsmouth

Matt Johnson had gone grunge and it was neither a pretty sight nor sound.

11. April: Hefner, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Sorry, I thought they were twee and over self-conscious. The singer was unbearable.

23. April: The Dandy Warhols, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Nice to see them in the charts about 18 months later.

4. May: Cousteau / Chris TT, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

The first time you see Cousteau they really impress you with their suaveness. Unfortunately, they never seem to learn any new songs.

5. May: Chicken Shack, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

I shook Stan’s hand and it was all limp. You wouldn’t think that of a gnarled bluesman, would you?

12. May: The Flaming Lips / Built To Spill / Wheat, Royal Festival Hall, London

The RFH is an absolutely terrible place to see a band. That’s all I’m prepared to say.

20. May: Neal Casal / Peter Bruntnell, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

Guess who blew whom offstage?

27. May: Bishopstock Festival, Exeter

It clashed with Homelands, it pissed with rain and the signs were there that all was not well in the state of Bishopstock. But Steve Earle was a revelation.

3. June: The Agency, Holdenhurst Village Hall

Tim Holt’s birthday. Here I met Tom Oldham, who reviewed the first edition of this book and started a bit of a roll for it. Respect!

8. June: Chris Hillman, The Brook, Southampton

Disappointingly wholesome. In the audience was Sid Griffin from the Long Ryders, who was drunk.

22  25 June: Glastonbury Festival

There was a problem with overcrowding and I was caught up in it. Having just seen the Flaming Lips on the New Band (!!) stage, my only thought was, at least I’ll die happy.

8. July: John Otway / The Nightporters, Twyford Parish Hall

Oh heck, another of those. Not even the brilliantly entertaining Nightporters could follow Otway.

13. July: Pat McDonald, Abaixadors Deu, Barcelona

Talk about mañana. John Parish was here, producing Sparklehorse, and did this show with Pat McDonald which didn’t get started until so late at night that I only heard half the first song before having to leave to catch a train.

16. July: Eels, Southampton Guildhall

Thankfully a less rowdy audience. Here, we learnt that you must never leave an Eels show until you are absolutely sure it’s over. And I got a crush on Lisa Germano.

17. August: Mansun, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Check out a silver-haired Tommy Winstone doing the tour managing. But Mansun seemed to have come to a bit of a full stop.

24. August: Asian Dub Foundation, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

My idea of a truly great band.

25. August: Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, Gosport Festival.

They don’t come any more dismal than this. Mind you, I got hate mail for saying so.

29. August: Omar and The Howlers, The Brook, Southampton

We missed them in Austin so they came to us.

2. September: The Agency, Ferndown Community Centre

Launching their new album which I daringly helped to finance. It sold so fast that I got the money back in about a week.

7. September: Drugstore, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Who on earth finances them?

17. September: PJ Harvey, The Hope and Anchor, Bridport

This crazy lunchtime gig was the world début of the Stories From The City  songs. Too weird to describe, really, but it got me back in the Independent on Sunday. The Hope should be an English Heritage site.

18. September: PJ Harvey, Bridport Arts Centre

The official début, featuring the psychedelic mini-skirt which turned out to be about the most restrained garment Polly wore all year.

We checked out Otway and co in a school hall before catching half the Gliders show. Sean Lyons, ex-Soft Boy, was in this very good band.

5. October: Elliot Smith, The Forum, London

I was on a total high, having just been on the Johnny Walker Show on Radio Two. I danced round Portland Place, which wasn’t very dignified.

12. October: The Delgados, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

They had the seediest chain-smoking string section imaginable.

19. October: Wishbone Ash, The Brook, Southampton

Paul made me go. (A different Paul, this time).

21. October: Vigilantes of Love, Joiners Arms, Southampton

A pretty good cult band from the States but there were only twelve people there.

9. November: Chris TT, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Chris was getting better and better. His second album contained a great song called Dreaming Of Injured Popstars.

25. November: Black Blue Fish Very Beautiful, Railway Inn, Winchester

The return of Rumdum. Possibly the weirdest band I’ve ever seen, and charming because they aren’t all clever-clever, just mad.

27. November: Grand Drive, The Borderline, London.

My first exposure to the godlike Hawksley Workman. And Grand Drive were wonderful too.

29. November: Willard Grant Conspiracy, Joiners Arms, Southampton

That Robert Fisher is a bit of a character, but you wouldn’t want to spend too much time with him on a tourbus.

3. December: Hardin and York, Café Hahn, Koblenz

The ultimate nostalgia trip. The whole family flew there just for the gig and yes, it was worth it.

9. December: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall

It wouldn’t be Christmas without them, would it?

10. December: Nine Below Zero / Amor, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

The new band of Jon Amor from the Hoax. We arrived just as he was saying ”Thank you, goodnight”, stayed for two songs from the headliners (interestingly featuring the ex-Rory Gallagher rhythm section), then went home again.

13. December: Vacant / Inner Sense, Railway Inn, Winchester

Vacant were a college indie band who backed Annabel, Hannah and Sara. Yes, my daughter is in a band. Whoopee! The two styles didn’t exactly gel, but the audience didn’t seem to notice.

2001

13. January: Kent Duchaine, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester.

A bit too slick.

31. January: And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead / The Strokes, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

I’m proud to have been at this one, because it was almost the Strokes’ first UK show. The audience was flattened by their refreshingly casual brilliance. The much-vaunted headliners turned out to be a bunch of pussycats in comparison to their fearsome reputation.

3. February: Grandaddy / Lowgold, Southampton University

Such tunes, such beards, such surreal back-projections.

9. February: Amor, Mr Smiths, Bournemouth

Still not the right place to see Jon. The sound was awful and his mike stand kept falling over.

Cooper Temple Clause turned up in a gigantic tourbus, to support a local band. Lots of money going into the CTC and I fervently hoped it would all be wasted.

11. February: PJ Harvey, Shepherds Bush Empire

Richard and Sharon, whose views I hold in great respect, walked out and went to the pub. The reason? Those two irritating grunge guitarists ruining the band. It started on a tremendous high with a solo Polly and then went downhill.

12. February: John Elliott, Royal Seven Stars, Totnes

Yes, John Elliott from the Lesser Known Tunisians. He hadn’t changed, I’m pleased to say.

16. February: Inner Sense, Railway Inn, Winchester

Another blinder.

17. February: Joe Jackson, Royal Festival Hall

Before the show, he was interviewed by Barbara Ellen. I was pissed off because I didn’t see why we should pay to experience this, but the actual show was so fantastic that I forgave him completely. What a sublime musician.

1. March: Inner Sense, The White Swan, WInchester

We just about made it out of there alive.

6. March: Drugstore, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

I only attend Drugstore gigs to demonstrate solidarity with their plight.

8. March: Ray Davies, The Anvil, Basingstoke

I’d seen him die a death doing this show at Glastonbury, but it went down much better here.

13. March: Terris, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Poor old Terris. Coldplay had gone ballistic and they hadn’t.

29. March: Sixteen Horsepower / John Parish, Dingwalls, London

A spooky band. Apparently they’re religious, but I found them frightening. JP’s huge new guitar band (thirteen members, I think) supported and Hugh Coltman from the Hoax had travelled from Paris specially to see 16 Horsepower.

30. March: Paul Lamb and the King Snakes, The Brook, Southampton

Their reputation was good but they were absolutely terrible.

2. April: Mo Solid Gold, Joiners Arms, Southampton

These Animal Men, to be exact. One album and goodbye, as usual.

11. April: Spencer Davis Group, Ronnie Scotts, Birmingham

Roy Wood was in the audience. Roy Wood!

12. April: Inner Sense, The White Swan, Winchester

There was a dispute about payment.

14. April: Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent, The Brook, Southampton

There was an unnecessary lead guitarist who spurted all over every song, including, heaven help us, She’s Not There. Poor Colin had to bellow (which of course he can’t do) and Rod Argent insisted on making smug speeches.

16. April: Tom Ovans / The Good Sons, Joiners Arms, Southampton

The smallest audience the Joiners has ever seen. Four people, of whom only one paid.

18. April: Cosmic Rough Riders, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Tuneful but boring. I always thought Alan McGee was a loser, and this proved it.

20. April: Tony Benn, Winchester Guildhall

I do realise that this is cheating and could render the entire gig list invalid, but it was as big a thrill as any rock show. Even the Tories present treated him as a hero.

25. April: Ash, The Pyramids, Portsmouth

Heavy metal for people who don’t like heavy metal. I’d vote for Charlotte Hatherley over Courtney Love as feistiest woman in rock.

29. April: The Soft Boys, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

Pretty surreal, huh? But despite the greyness of their locks, they were better than ever and even had some new songs.

4. May: Errol Linton’s Blues Vibe, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

Only once have I seen a band more stoned than this. It was on December 7th 2001.

Hector was in paradise, but I had to drive. We had a burger on Portsdown Hill.

11. June: Proud Mary, Joiners Arms, Southampton

They were as dire as any review you may have read. And the rest.

22. June: John Otway, Twyford Parish Hall

Someone else was promoting the show, which made a change. Otway did his birthday set.

4. July: Inner Sense, Railway Inn, Winchester

I could have been the audience’s great grandfather.

5. July: Larmer Tree Festival with Van Morrison and The Agency

And guess who blew whom offstage?

7. July: Radiohead / Supergrass, South Park, Oxford

It was chucking it down when they finished but Lucy wanted to stay for the encore in case they played Creep. I assured her there was no way they would play that particular song and got into awful trouble when we heard its strains wafting over the fence five minutes later.

11. July: Thirst, Railway Inn , Winchester

I want to like them a lot but an indefinable something holds me back.

14. July: Ed Harcourt, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Sorry, but this smelt of hype.

16. July: Haven, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Managed by the Smiths’ manager, apparently. I quite liked them but the music press was doubtful.

19. July: The Blockheads, Bullington Arms, Oxford

An eventful evening. Phill Jupitus took Ian Dury’s place brilliantly. Then (Clever) Trevor got so drunk I had to carry him home. A passing cyclist called out ”Fucking faggots!”

We were there to see PJ Harvey and Eels. It felt really strange, because I wasn’t reviewing it but then, all of a sudden, I was, because of unexpectedly linking up with a super American music magazine called Amplifier.

28. August: Eels, The Forum, London

I’m afraid that E is a genius.

29. August: Heather Nova / Cousteau, Shepherds Bush Empire

This was a bit silly (see 21. October). What’s more, Cousteau still hadn’t learnt any new songs.

I genuinely thought I was booking to see Elliott Smith! But actually, these two old stagers were good, if not exactly new millenium cutting edge. I would have reflected on seeing Iain Matthews back in 1968, but unfortunately the Belgian beer had already taken its toll.

27. September: Trip, Railway Inn , Winchester

A Trip reunion after all this time. They only played three songs, but the old fire blazed.

30. September: The Music, Joiners Arms, Southampton

Stupid hype.

7. October: Spiritualized, The Pyramids, Portsmouth

I’d gone off them again.

10. October: Inner Sense, Railway Inn, Winchester

Magic but unmanageable.

21. October: Heather Nova, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

I had been to see Heather and her band in London, not knowing that they’d be touring. The London show was okay (with special mention for the grungy female German guitarist) but this stripped-down acoustic version was sensational.

25. October: Eels, Brixton Academy

I finally got to meet Butch and Mr E. Do you know he recorded the definitive version of the Hollies’ Jennifer Eccles?

28. October: Thea Gilmore, The Brook, Southampton

She was unmemorable and then there was a fight.

31. October: Mercury Rev, Anson Rooms, Bristol

If they didn’t come to me, I’d have to go to them. There have been few better bands in history.

7. November: David Kitt, Joiners Arms, Southampton

See Ed Harcourt. Nick Drake’s already been done, David.

9. November: Handsome Family, Tower Arts Centre, WInchester

The joke was wearing a bit thin.

14. November: Inner Sense, Railway Inn, Winchester

They should be signed for a million quid. They won’t be.

20. November: Lift To Experience, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

A Texan cross between Mogwai and Pavement.

6. December: The Producers, The Brook, Southampton

Farewell, then, guys.

7. December: Peter Bruntnell, Railway Inn, Winchester

Stoned Love.

15. December: The Agency / Amor, Twyford Parish Hall

We had actually planned to stop doing these shows, but temptation is a difficult thing to resist.

17. December: Naughty Rhythms Tour, Winchester Guildhall

Canned Heat didn’t appear because Fito de la Parra had tennis elbow!

2002

10. January: User, Hope and Anchor, Islington

Strange to be back here after so many years. It’s gone a bit up-market but I preferred it when the stage was made of beer crates.

17. January: Pete Yorn, The Water Rats, Kings Cross

Strange to be back here after … hang on, just said that. There was a long and complicated story to this gig, but the main question is: Why do record companies put so much into music which, while enjoyable, is such old hat?

1. February: Bap Kennedy / Mark Nevin, Tower Arts Centre, Winchester

There was a funny atmosphere and the show didn’t take off.

5. February: Ee-blee / The Sense, Joiners Arms, Southampton

A slightly mismatched bill but a chance for the Gurlz (complete with name change) to get their live set recorded at last.

15. February: Goldrush / Buffseeds, Joiners Arms, Southampton

More post-Radiohead bands. Thank goodness the Strokes and other Americans are riding to the rescue with some different music.

6. March: Electric Soft Parade, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

They have the same gimmick as Trail of Dead, in that the drummer and guitarist swap instruments and lead vocals.

7. March: Spiritualized, Southampton Guildhall

Having hated them, loved them and hated them again, this time I found them sort of okay. Probably not a band you ought to see too often.

By no means as dreadful as it sounds. All three bands had a couple of original members and were on good form. Afterwards, we hob-nobbed with them in the Basingstoke Hilton. Very Alan Partridge, I’m sure.

13. March: Billy Bragg, Salisbury City Hall

A sublime evening of real warmth and pleasure for all concerned. Watching and hearing Sir Ian McLagan in action was like a dream. If you’re lucky, you can sometimes catch him and Billy jamming in the Three Horseshoes, Burton Bradstock.

14. March: Bill Sheffield, The Brook, Southampton

First visit to these shores by Georgia bluesman, accompanied by ex-Producer Dave Saunders.

16. March: Amor / The Sense, Railway Inn, Winchester.

One of ours, and bloody gratifying. Amor simply ripped the place apart. This was definitely going to be their year.

29. March: Uninvited Guest, Fishbonz, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Definitively the worst band I’ve ever seen. I could describe it to you but it would make you ill.

30. March: Shaking Tree, Fishbones, Tulsa

I felt so sorry that the audience ignored them that I bought two of their CDs (but have never actually listened to them).

11. April: Dem Brooklyn Bums, Fibbers, York

NYC ska-punk. Don’t ask, but drunkenness and cigars were involved.

17. April: Ken Hensley and Free Spirit, The Brook, Southampton

Proud Words, but the shelf had got dustier.

22. April: Mercury Rev, The Event, Brighton

This was a garish disco but not even that could spoil the magic.

30. April: Durango 75, Railway, Winchester

I remember that Richard Williams got cuddled a lot.

1. May: Lambchop, Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth

A bit quiet for me. I got sshed at for creaking the door and allowing my mobile phone to go off.

7. May: Doves, Portsmouth Pyramids

I don’t care what anyone says, they DO sound like Camel.

7. June: The Manfreds, Portsmouth Guildhall

A sort of package show. Not much cop.

11. June: The Somatics, Railway, Winchester

Quite a retro band. I liked them but they don’t seem to have much of a future.

13. June: Stag / The Sense, Railway, Winchester

Supposed to be a showcase for some music industry people. Unfortunately, they turned up after The Sense had finished, much like Wilson Pickett did in the Commitments.

18. June: Black Blue Fish Very Beautiful: Railway, Winchester

Endearingly bonkers as usual.

20. June: The Bees, Joiners Arms, Southampton

The first band to come out of the Isle of Wight since Level 42. Really, really enjoyable, too.

Few things can be as enjoyable as walking along a sunny Brighton seafront with Cindy Wassermann.

July 8: Travelling Band, The Point, Eastleigh

They supported Leisure Society and blew them offstage.

July 13: Richmond Fontaine Acoustic, Railway, Winchester

Willy and Dan in the Attic. Intense and very, very hot.

July 22  24: Truck Festival, Steventon

Great weekend notable for a triumph by The Duke And The King. Little did we know the festival was in the process of going bust (although the signs were there).

July 26: Ed Sheeran, Railway, Winchester

Interesting because he was number 3 in the charts at the time. He rather sweetly performed on a beer crate in the middle of the room. He reminded me of Finley Quaye - folk with beats and constant references to dope.

August 2: Sidmouth Fringe Festival

Notable for lovely food, the presence of Small Town Jones and Peter Bruntnell, and an almost complete lack of audience. And the fact that I got all the way there by bus, and for free.

August 8: Ian McLagan, Railway, Winchester

I was star-struck again. Mac stopped for a piss in the car park on his way to the stage. Two days before, he’d been performing to 100,000 people at Fuji Rock with The Faces.

August 17: The Low Anthem, Hare and Hounds, Birmingham

A Winchester outing to a sweet warm-up for Green Man.

August 18: Mark Morriss, Railway, Winchester

The Bluetones front man was a tad inebriated, which made him an excellent raconteur.

August 27: Buddy Whittington, Railway, Winchester

He’s not small.

August 28: Peter Bruntnell, Black Lion, Surbiton

Pete with his covers band.

August 31: Matthew and the Atlas, Railway, Winchester

A bit clever for me.

September 11: Sam Baker, Railway, Winchester

Trouble for me. People were buying me tequilas, as it was my birthday. When I got home, whoops, I knocked a rather valuable ornament off the wall.

September 10: Peter Bruntnell, The Palmeira, Hove

Birgit very nearly fell asleep at the wheel on the interminable journey home.

September 12: Jason McNiff, St Pancras Old Church, London

Jason’s album launch in a lovely, if hard to find venue.

September 26: SXSC Festival, Railway, Winchester

Our annual all-dayer, and the focus of my life for months. It was a wonderful day. The magnificent Richmond Fontaine headlined.

September 24: The Agency, Twyford Parish Hall

Just like the old days except, thank goodness, someone else organised it.

September 27: Richmond Fontaine, Scala, London

Their big show, and a general triumph.

September 28: Beth Jeans Houghton, Railway, Winchester

Absolutely bloody brilliant, although they looked like street children, sitting on the floor of the car park before the show. I went home and looked for them on You Tube - scandalous video they have.

October 5: Ghostpoet, Railway, Winchester

Rammed, as he had just been nominated for the Mercury Prize. I went with daughter Lucy and Ghostpoet was very, very good.

October 9: Israel Nash Gripka, Railway, Winchester

Loud.

October 11: Roddy Woomble, The Point, Eastleigh

Lovely venue and a good but slightly soulless performance.

October 12: Lotte Mullan, Railway, Winchester

Actually very charming - an Ed Sheeran-style breakthrough is not out of the question.

October 15: Alejandro Escovedo, Railway, Winchester

Austin’s finest, an unadulterated joy.

October 20: Richard Warren, The 12 Bar, London

Richard’s album launch. A dingy but atmospheric place.

October 23: Singing Adams, Railway, Winchester

Steven from the Broken Family Band on cracking form.

October 25: Richmond Fontaine, Café Atlantik, Freiburg, Germany

One of my madder escapades. Their rider was a fridge full of beer called Fucking Hell.

October 28: Travelling Band, Discovery Centre, Winchester

I was sure it wouldn’t work in this venue but I was wrong.

October 31: PJ Harvey, Royal Albert Hall, London

A night out with daughter Lucy. Finally getting used to Let England Shake but I still don’t believe its her best album.

November 3: The Selecter, Railway, Winchester

Earlier in the evening we saw Charlie Parr at the new Berry Theatre in Hedge End. The contrast could hardly have been greater.

November 6: Richard Buckner, Railway, Winchester

One of the most rewarding shows we have done (not financially, sadly). Italian backing band Sacri Cuori were a scream.

November 8: Eilen Jewell, Railway, Winchester

Welcome return.

November 9: Mark Eitzel, Richard Buckner, Buffalo Bar, Cardiff

Impossible to resist.

November 16: Low Anthem, Roundhouse, London

I was proud that support Simone Felice got me into the VIP area. Made a swift exit when the VIPs talked all the way though.

November 25: Amelia Curran, Swiss Cottage, Twyford

House concert. Jason McNiff supported and I think it got quite drunken.

December 9: Franz Nicolai, Chris T-T, The Bargate, Southampton

Officially the coldest gig I have ever attended. Cheered by the presence of Emma from Band Of Skulls.

December 14: Stephen Fretwell, The Railway, Winchester

Very, very good indeed.

2012

January 16: Laura Gibson, The Social, London

Dump of a venue at which I could neither see nor hear.

January 31: Whitehorse, The Railway, Winchester

The new name for Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland. Lots of loops and effects took some getting used to.

February 8: Rich Robinson, The Brook, Southampton

Black Crowes guitarist on good form.

February 14: Danny and the Champions Of The World, The Railway, Winchester

Romantic evening with Danny and the boys (and girl).

February 17: Dawes, The Windmill, Brixton

First exposure to a band destined to become one of my favourites. Sweaty and joyful.

February 18: The Deep Dark Woods, The Railway, Winchester

What a weekend of music. Another new band that simply blew everyone away. This was their first ever UK show.

February 22: The Lucky Strikes / Ox, The Railway, Winchester

Southend’s finest, supported by our old friends from Canada.

February 28: Kathleen Edwards, The Academy, Islington

Emotional evening. Kathleen with full band. At one stage, both she and the audience were in tears.

March 7: Peter Bruntnell Band, The Caves, The Railway, Winchester

Pete with his great new Welsh backing band The Caves. Plus Davey Lemonade of course.

March 13  16: South By South West Festival, Austin, Texas

I saw Chuck Prophet five times in two days.

March 21: Richmond Fontaine, Peter Bruntnell, The Chapel, Bath

Willy’s story of how he first met Peter Bruntnell on an alien planet brought the house down.

March 29: The Hollies, G Live, Guildford

I think the most exciting day of my musical life. Bobby Elliott gave us wine backstage in plastic cups and Tony Hicks sort of nodded at me.

April 1: Aynsley Lister, The Railway, Winchester

Not a good joke.

April 2: Shearwater, The Cellar, Oxford

They’d lost their most interesting members and turned into a grungy rock band.

April 6: Simone Felice, The Railway, Winchester

With Simi Stone and Matt Boulter. Intense.

April 11: Miller Anderson, The Railway, Winchester

Hardly anyone there but Miller was cheerful and positive.

April 14: Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express, The Railway, Winchester

Incredible treat with Chuck Prophet and they Mission Express, Sarah Borges and many others.

March 4: Kelley Stoltz, The Railway, Winchester

Great to have him back. Good support from Liverpudlians The Probes as well.

March 13 – 18: South By South West Festival, Austin, Texas

Back on track and total fun.

March 29: Don Gallardo, Gibson Guitar Studio, London

Launch party for Maverick Festival.

May 16: The Deep Dark Woods, The Railway, Winchester

The day after returning from a 6 week van trip! Wonderful to see them again, though.

May 20: The Rails, The Railway, Winchester

Healthy audience for James and Kami, this time with full band.

May 30: Robyn Hitchcock, The Brook, Southampton

We got to sit in the “Royal Box”. Useful evening which opened the door to booking Robyn for the Railway.

June 7: Gruff Rhys, The Railway, Winchester

“Big Band In A Little Venue” – never fails. And I set this one up.

June 8: Laura Veirs, Union Chapel, London

Great, but those damn wooden pews …

June 9: Benjamin Folke Thomas, Swiss Cottage, Twyford

Ben got drunk. Want to know anything else?

June 15: Boxcar Boys, Swiss Cottage, Twyford

Spontaneous gig caused by the band having a cancellation. Turned out to be very unusual music and the one of the best Cottage shows ever!

June 26: John Murry, The Lexington, London

Very pleasing, as there was a good turnout. Plus of course the obligatory visit to Indian Veg.

July 3: The Americans, The Railway, Winchester

This confirmed my hatred of football, as it coincided with a World Cup match and hardly anyone came. The band played like true heroes (three encores).

July 6: Vera van Heeringen Trio, Swiss Cottage, Twyford

Our first alfresco show, because of the heatwave. Wonderful music and great support from Christopher Rees.

July 8: Eric Clapton, Steve Linwood, Hyde Park, London

Lovely day out with my friend Peter. The Americans played on a small stage and were arguably the best act of the day. I got into an internet fight for slagging off a dreadful band called the Wandering Hearts.

July 14 – 16: Rhythmtree Festival, Isle Of Wight

Such a lovely festival. We got to curate a little stage on the woods and all the artists (Nadine Khouri, Robert Chaney, Ma Polaine’s Great Decline, Lucas And King and Hymn For Her) were superb. Excellent main stage performances also, from the likes of Morcheeba.

July 20: Larmer Tree Festival, Dorset

Fantastic solo day out for me, culminating in the best musical moment of the year, The Barr Brothers. I became involved in a bizarre (but happy) audience / stage conversation about holidays in Greece – don’t ask.

August 2: Wickham Festival

A better musical line-up than usual, with Richard Thompson and Squeeze.

August 23: Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires, The Railway, Winchester

Such powerful, raucous and fun music from a brilliantly radical band. Very proud about this one, and support band The Glorias.

August 26: Graze Festival, Twyford

The music was uniformly superb, but the rain destroyed the event and in fact it couldn’t be rescued to continue in future years. We gave it our best shot!

August 31 – September 2: End Of The Road Festival, Dorset

The usual wonderful music and vibe, topped of by meeting the extraordinary Josh T Pearson.

September 8: My 70th birthday concert, Parish Hall, Twyford

Of course it was fraught but we pulled it off with the help of Lucas and King, John Murry and Chuck Prophet.

September 10 – 15: Americanafest, Nashville, Tennessee

Frantically zooming from venue to venue. Lots of great music and a fun experience but sxsw is enough for me and I won’t be doing this one again.